Petri evolves into voice of moderation in the House of Representatives

Petri has paid a price for being a moderate Republican willing to work with Democrats. Conservative House GOP leaders passed him over for chairmanship of the House Education Committee in 2001 and for the top Republican seat on the full House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee this year. He has a subcommittee post as ranking Republican. Democrats have been spotty on their promises of bipartisanship since taking control of the House in January, but Petri said, "We've been making progress on bread-and-butter issues," he said. Democrats on the Education and Labor Committee were open to his proposals for changing student testing requirements in the No Child Left Behind law. "I've discovered that's one area where my Democratic colleagues are interested in my ideas, even though I'm in the minority," Petri said. Congressman Tom Petri of Wisconsin served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Somalia in the 1960's.

WASHINGTON — House members, including Rep. Tom Petri of Fond du Lac, return today for what is expected to be a bruising fall session on the federal budget, the Iraq war and other issues.

They left for August recess on a bitter partisan note with Republicans accusing Democrats of "stealing" a floor vote on a procedural motion to send the 2008 agriculture spending bill back to committee to add wording that explicitly denies undocumented immigrants benefits under the bill.

Republicans say they won the vote, but Democrats said the motion failed because of lawmakers changing votes. Democrats agreed to create a special committee to review the vote, but the House vote to pass the spending bill stands.

Petri, R-Fond du Lac, said the shouting between the parties was a mix of political theatrics and genuine frustration.

Petri has paid a price for being a moderate Republican willing to work with Democrats. Conservative House GOP leaders passed him over for chairmanship of the House Education Committee in 2001 and for the top Republican seat on the full House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee this year. He has a subcommittee post as ranking Republican.

Democrats have been spotty on their promises of bipartisanship since taking control of the House in January, but Petri said, "We've been making progress on bread-and-butter issues," he said.

Democrats on the Education and Labor Committee were open to his proposals for changing student testing requirements in the No Child Left Behind law.

"I've discovered that's one area where my Democratic colleagues are interested in my ideas, even though I'm in the minority," Petri said.

Committee Democrats also included in their bill to restructure student federal aid an idea for a pilot program using market-based methods such as auctions to reduce taxpayer costs for federal guaranteed loans. Lenders would have to bid for the business and those willing to take the lowest government subsidy would have the right to offer loans to a region or a set of institutions for several years.

Petri also got another provision included that would limit a graduate's monthly student loan payments to 15 percent of his or her adjusted income. The House passed the bill, H.R. 2669, in July. Negotiators are working out differences between House and Senate bills.

Committee Chairman George Miller, D-Calif., called Petri "a principled and hardworking member of Congress."

"He has shown this during his work over the last couple years on higher education issues, where he has been willing to buck his party leadership and work in a bipartisan way to help students and families pay for college," Miller said.

Additionally, Petri said the Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Aviation, of which he is the ranking Republican, got the Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill out of committee. The legislation would modernize air traffic control systems and authorize $15.8 billion for the Airport Improvement program that provides grants to update runways and other airport infrastructure. The bill would authorize nearly $13 billion for the FAA's facilities and equipment and $37.2 billion for FAA operations. The legislation is pending before the House Ways and Means Committee, which is responsible for fees and taxes in the bill.

Committee Republicans lost a fight over a provision to force the FAA to reopen contact talks with air traffic controllers. The provision triggered a presidential veto threat.

Petri said Democrats could do much more to make allies of Republican moderates.

Charles Bass, president of an association of moderate congressional GOP lawmakers, agreed.

"The Democrats, instead of reaching out to the moderate Republicans, are being hyper partisan," said Bass, who runs the Republican Main Street Partnership.

Bass, a former New Hampshire congressman, said Main Street members could play a larger role in the fall as Democrats try to wrap up the session with legislative accomplishments. Petri could benefit from that, he said.

"Congressman Petri has always had a reputation for working with Democrats. Petri is not known as a bomb thrower," Bass said.

Petri's willingness to work with Democrats began before he entered Congress. As a young Harvard law grad, he clerked for federal Judge James Doyle Sr., father of Gov. Jim Doyle, D-Wis., and an activist credited with helping rebuild Wisconsin's Democratic Party in the 1950s.

Petri entered the House after winning a 1979 special election. He had served seven years in the Wisconsin state Senate after a stint as a Peace Corps volunteer in Somalia.

Low-key and affable, Petri has navigated his way through the House as a fiscal conservative willing to spend on transportation, road and bridge projects. He occasionally breaks with his party on education issues and other issues such as President Bush's decision to send 21,000 more U.S. troops to the Iraqi capital of Baghdad and surrounding areas.

Majority Whip James Clyburn said Petri and other Republican moderates are more likely to be effective within committees where there's more willingness to work across party lines.

"I think he does (have a role) within the committees. There's much more cooperation in the committees than there is on the floor," said Clyburn, D-S.C.

Clyburn, who is responsible for rounding up votes for Democratic legislation, said bipartisanship is less likely on the floor, where each party is trying to define itself.

Clyburn said he's worked with Petri and "he's a guy I like very much. He's a good guy."

Petri has built a reputation as a thoughtful man.

"If you want good advice, seek out Tom Petri," said Rep. Bob Inglis, R-S.C. "He's a guy who is well prepared."

What is the greatest threat facing us now? "People will say it's terrorism. But are there any terrorists in the world who can change the American way of life or our political system? No. Can they knock down a building? Yes. Can they kill somebody? Yes. But can they change us? No. Only we can change ourselves. So what is the great threat we are facing? I would approach this differently, in almost Marshall-like terms. What are the great opportunities out there - ones that we can take advantage of?" Read more.

Paul Theroux: Peace Corps WriterPaul Theroux began by writing about the life he knew in Africa as a Peace Corps Volunteer. His first first three novels are set in Africa and two of his later novels recast his Peace Corps tour as fiction. Read about how Theroux involved himself with rebel politicians, was expelled from Malawi, and how the Peace Corps tried to ruin him financially in John Coyne's analysis and appreciation of one of the greatest American writers of his generation (who also happens to be an RPCV).

Dodd issues call for National ServiceStanding on the steps of the Nashua City Hall where JFK kicked off his campaign in 1960, Presidential Candidate Chris Dodd issued a call for National Service. "Like thousands of others, I heard President Kennedy's words and a short time later joined the Peace Corps." Dodd said his goal is to see 40 million people volunteering in some form or another by 2020. "We have an appetite for service. We like to be asked to roll up our sleeves and make a contribution," he said. "We haven't been asked in a long time."

Public diplomacy rests on sound public policyWhen President Kennedy spoke of "a long twilight struggle," and challenged the country to "ask not," he signaled that the Cold War was the challenge and framework defining US foreign policy. The current challenge is not a struggle against a totalitarian foe. It is not a battle against an enemy called "Islamofascism." From these false assumptions flow false choices, including the false choice between law enforcement and war. Instead, law enforcement and military force both must be essential instruments, along with diplomacy, including public diplomacy. But public diplomacy rests on policy, and to begin with, the policy must be sound. Read more.

Ambassador revokes clearance for PC DirectorA post made on PCOL from volunteers in Tanzania alleges that Ambassador Retzer has acted improperly in revoking the country clearance of Country Director Christine Djondo. A statement from Peace Corps' Press Office says that the Peace Corps strongly disagrees with the ambassador’s decision. On June 8 the White House announced that Retzer is being replaced as Ambassador. Latest: Senator Dodd has placed a hold on Mark Green's nomination to be Ambassador to Tanzania.

Peace Corps FunniesA PCV writing home? Our editor hard at work? Take a look at our Peace Corps Funnies and Peace Corps Cartoons and see why Peace Corps Volunteers say that sometimes a touch of levity can be one of the best ways of dealing with frustrations in the field. Read what RPCVs say about the lighter side of life in the Peace Corps and see why irreverent observations can often contain more than a grain of truth. We'll supply the photos. You supply the captions.

PCOL serves half millionPCOL's readership for April exceeded 525,000 visitors - a 50% increase over last year. This year also saw the advent of a new web site: Peace Corps News that together with the Peace Corps Library and History of the Peace Corps serve 17,000 RPCVs, Staff, and Friends of the Peace Corps every day. Thanks for making PCOL your source of news for the Peace Corps community. Read more.

Suspect confesses in murder of PCVSearch parties in the Philippines discovered the body of Peace Corps Volunteer Julia Campbell near Barangay Batad, Banaue town on April 17. Director Tschetter expressed his sorrow at learning the news. “Julia was a proud member of the Peace Corps family, and she contributed greatly to the lives of Filipino citizens in Donsol, Sorsogon, where she served,” he said. Latest: Suspect Juan Duntugan admits to killing Campbell. Leave your thoughts and condolences .

He served with honorOne year ago, Staff Sgt. Robert J. Paul (RPCV Kenya) carried on an ongoing dialog on this website on the military and the peace corps and his role as a member of a Civil Affairs Team in Iraq and Afghanistan. We have just received a report that Sargeant Paul has been killed by a car bomb in Kabul. Words cannot express our feeling of loss for this tremendous injury to the entire RPCV community. Most of us didn't know him personally but we knew him from his words. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends. He was one of ours and he served with honor.

Read the stories and leave your comments.

Some postings on Peace Corps Online are provided to the individual members of this group without permission of the copyright owner for the non-profit purposes of criticism, comment, education, scholarship, and research under the "Fair Use" provisions of U.S. Government copyright laws and they may not be distributed further without permission of the copyright owner. Peace Corps Online does not vouch for the accuracy of the content of the postings, which is the sole responsibility of the copyright holder.

Story Source: Sheboygan Press

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; Figures; COS - Somalia; Politics; Congress

PCOL3934791

Add a Message

This is a public posting area. Enter your username and password if you have an account. Otherwise, enter your full name as your username and leave the password blank. Your e-mail address is optional.